Last month I gave a lesson for the sweet sisters. This month I decided to speak to the Young Men, therefore I perused the current Aaronic priesthood manual for some interesting topics. I would like to touch on a couple things that the Young men might find interesting.
1) Jesus is the light source for the sun, Moon, and stars.
Yes it is true, direct from the manual itself, Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3, Lesson 13.
1. Jesus Christ is the light of the sun, moon, and stars.
• What does Doctrine and Covenants 88:7–10 say about the light of the sun, moon, and stars?
Explain that although we do not understand how, we know that Jesus is the source of the light of the sun, moon, and stars.
This is very exciting doctrine, as I know you young men are probably very interested in space and stuff. I always wondered why the Sun, Moon, and Stars are so shiny and bright. Until I joined the church this was a mystery to me. Now that I have the gospel I know this plain and precious truth. They get their light from Jesus.
Now, you are probably wondering about Venus and Mars and Jupiter, where do they get their light? We are not sure how they get their light, the prophets have not spoken on that, and I dare not speculate.
2) There is something else very interesting that you young men should know, once you become a priest, your enemies will be struck dead. This interesting little tidbit comes from the same Aaronic Priesthood manual, Lesson 22: Duties of a Priest. This little story about Wilford Woodruff when he was a priest really hit home for me, I especially like the bolded parts. If I was in your home, I would let you take turns reading sentences in this story, but since we're not, you can all just read it to yourselves:
Story
President Wilford Woodruff experienced the ministering of angels when he was doing missionary work as a priest and was impressed to warn a formerly active Church member named Father Hakeman to repent and become active again.
“I was once moved upon to go and warn old Father Hakeman. … He had been in Jackson County during the persecution period. … We went a good deal out of our way for the purpose of visiting Father Hakeman. I had a vision the night previous, in which was manifested to me the trouble that lay before us, but that the Lord would deliver us. We arrived at his house on Sunday morning. He was taking breakfast. We had had breakfast at the place where we stayed overnight. I saw a Book of Mormon on his shelf. He did not seem to pay any attention to us, or to take any interest in us. I took up the Book of Mormon, and said, ‘You have a very good book here.’
“ ‘Yes,’ said he, ‘but it is a book that came from the devil.’
“That opened my eyes. He had been an elder; he had been in Zion; had been persecuted there and driven out; but I found that he had apostatized, and he was our enemy. I saw he would do anything he could against us.
“We left him and went to Brother Hubbard’s and stayed with him three weeks, during which we took our axes and cleared some land for him. I was strongly impressed three times to go up and warn Father Hakeman. At last I did so, according to the commandment of God to me. The third time I met with him, his house seemed to be full of evil spirits, and I was troubled in spirit at the manifestation. When I finished my warning, I left him. He followed me from his house with the intention of killing me. I have no doubt about his intention, for it was shown to me in vision. When he came to where I was, he fell dead at my feet, as if he had been struck with a thunderbolt from heaven. I was then a priest, but God defended me and preserved my life. I speak of this because it is a principle that has been manifest in the church of God in this generation as well as in others. I had the administration of angels while holding the office of a priest. I had visions and revelations. I traveled thousand of miles. I baptized men, though I could not confirm them because I had not the authority to do it.
“I speak of these things to show that a man should not be ashamed of any portion of the priesthood. Our young men, if they are deacons, should labor to fulfil that office. If they do that, they may then be called to the office of a teacher, whose duty it is to teach the people, visit the Saints and see that there is no evil or iniquity carried on. God has no respect for persons in this priesthood any further than as they magnify their callings and do their duty” (Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1946], pp. 297–98).
So you see, if you are a faithful priest, and you preach the gospel, if anyone comes at you to kill you they will be struck dead by the power of god. I hope you young men understand that this is really awesome stuff.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
